he only had a elementary school education, and he rose to popularity because he became the announcer for the birmingham barons. he just sort of backed into the job. the guy didn't show up one day, he did it, and he became one of the most well known figures all over alabama because he was the radio announcer, and he parlayed that into a political career and a very powerful political career. and he also was the enforcer of a rule that was in birmingham on the city books at the time. it was called the checkers ordnance, checkers rule. and the checkers rule was that no blacks and whites can play any sport together -- football, basketball work baseball and including checkers. and it was strictly enforced by bull connor. he would send out his police force to keep kids from playing an integrated sport. so the checkers rule came up in 1962. they decided -- the major league baseball told the minor league teams integrate or you don't get a team. and rather than integrate, there was such force from the ku klux klan not to integrate the team that the owner of the team, the local owner of the tea